An internet celebrity is quite different from the traditional celebrity. The latter's popularity is characterized by the amount of different types of media he or she dominates; this could include tv, magazines, movies, etc. Generally, the "celebrity" is a highly visible person. However, the internet celebrity doesn't have to be a person at all, and this person or entity is usually popularized through domination of ONE form of media. The "celebrity" can be a concept instead of a person, where the origins (though still traceable) are not necessarily popularly know. For example, LOL Cats are one of the most popular internet memes today, but few are aware of who created this internet gold mine. It has spawned a whole host of LOL related sites, as well as the nerd-language LOLcode. Shows like Saturday Night Live have capitalized on the demand for internet promotion, with the Lonely Island creating a host of "digital shorts" that your mother may or may not be amused by. An internet celebrity does not try to target every demographic, but rather, one specific demographic (like 13 year old girls) that will view their content on a mass scale. He or she can create an image of him or herself through specifically targeted/opinionated blogs, videos (or video blogs, if you REALLY want to get into some meaty material). This person or people could become famous through a series of amusing blogs, or through one single mass media event (such as a viral video).
How does one become an internet celebrity? (Hint: you know you've made it when Weezer puts you in their own attempt at teenage appeal). According to an anonymous Tech Crunch contributor, content is only partially responsible for the rise of internet fame. The length of the video or post must cater to the short attention span of the viewer. There must be a strong possibility for remixing or re-quoting. Both the Dramatic Hamster and Howard Dean have seen their popularity sharply increase (whether this is negative or positive, I won't speculate) because they can be taken out of context. Content must also have some kind of surprise or shock factor that the viewer isn't expecting (think of every Doritos commercial ever produced for the Super Bowl). When all else fails, make sure your video or post has an underlying infusion of sexuality. It is also important to note that videos or blogs that become popular are relentlessly promoted by someone (not necessarily the author). Reposting to your own blog, Twitter, forums, Facebook, Myspace, or whatever else is a sure way to make sure other click the link. It's also not a bad idea to comment/troll your own posts, as it will make other people think that they should also have heated feelings about your content. Lastly, whatever you have, it should have a short, punchy title that is easily searchable, even for the spelling and memory challenged people out there.
Overview
An internet celebrity is quite different from the traditional celebrity. The latter's popularity is characterized by the amount of different types of media he or she dominates; this could include tv, magazines, movies, etc. Generally, the "celebrity" is a highly visible person. However, the internet celebrity doesn't have to be a person at all, and this person or entity is usually popularized through domination of ONE form of media. The "celebrity" can be a concept instead of a person, where the origins (though still traceable) are not necessarily popularly know. For example, LOL Cats are one of the most popular internet memes today, but few are aware of who created this internet gold mine. It has spawned a whole host of LOL related sites, as well as the nerd-language LOLcode. Shows like Saturday Night Live have capitalized on the demand for internet promotion, with the Lonely Island creating a host of "digital shorts" that your mother may or may not be amused by. An internet celebrity does not try to target every demographic, but rather, one specific demographic (like 13 year old girls) that will view their content on a mass scale. He or she can create an image of him or herself through specifically targeted/opinionated blogs, videos (or video blogs, if you REALLY want to get into some meaty material). This person or people could become famous through a series of amusing blogs, or through one single mass media event (such as a viral video).
How does one become an internet celebrity? (Hint: you know you've made it when Weezer puts you in their own attempt at teenage appeal). According to an anonymous Tech Crunch contributor, content is only partially responsible for the rise of internet fame. The length of the video or post must cater to the short attention span of the viewer. There must be a strong possibility for remixing or re-quoting. Both the Dramatic Hamster and Howard Dean have seen their popularity sharply increase (whether this is negative or positive, I won't speculate) because they can be taken out of context. Content must also have some kind of surprise or shock factor that the viewer isn't expecting (think of every Doritos commercial ever produced for the Super Bowl). When all else fails, make sure your video or post has an underlying infusion of sexuality. It is also important to note that videos or blogs that become popular are relentlessly promoted by someone (not necessarily the author). Reposting to your own blog, Twitter, forums, Facebook, Myspace, or whatever else is a sure way to make sure other click the link. It's also not a bad idea to comment/troll your own posts, as it will make other people think that they should also have heated feelings about your content. Lastly, whatever you have, it should have a short, punchy title that is easily searchable, even for the spelling and memory challenged people out there.
Citations:
1. http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/05/01/roflcon/
2. http://techcrunch.com/2007/11/22/the-secret-strategies-behind-many-viral-videos/
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